Does Heroin Affect Your Sex Drive?

Sex is a critical part of a well-adjusted human being. That’s why it’s important to understand the full impact that heroin and other opiates have on human sexuality.

Will opiates harm your sex life?

Drugs like heroin, methadone, and oxycodone exert an inhibitory influence on sexual activity, and the science shows that opiates impair sexual behavior. For instance, it’s common for male opiate users to joke about sex being “very low on the list” of important things to do.

Male opiate users may have difficulty attaining or sustaining erections (erectile dysfunction). Though much of the evidence points to less arousal as opposed to actual impotence. Female opiate users typically have problems with moisture, and menstrual cycle. Unfortunately, sexual side effects often lead to secondary psychological effects such as depression and anxiety. If sex changes from a pleasurable to a painful experience, it may inhibit development of new relationships. Alarmingly, prepubertal opiate exposure tends to inhibit sexual maturation. You can imagine what kind of problems arise from that development or lack thereof.

Sexual health studies

Studies show that opiate use inhibits interest in having sex, depreciates the capacity to enjoy sex and diminishes the ability to start a family. We also know that opiates produce disturbances in sexual need, sexual desire, sexual fantasy, erections, orgasms and fertility.

Scientific studies on male rats by M. Leyton and J. Stewart indicate that stimulation of kappa opioid receptors decreased male sexual behavior, locomotor activity, bodily grooming and body temperature. The study showed that male rats had a decrease in the average number of ejaculations, and longer dormancy periods between sexual activity.

The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) wrote in 2010 that, “In humans and laboratory animals, opioids generally increase GH and prolactin and decrease LH, testosterone, estradiol, and oxytocin.” Later in that same report the NCBI wrote, “Increasing opioid abuse primarily leads to hypogonadism but may also affect the secretion of other pituitary hormones. The potential consequences of hypogonadism include decreased libido and erectile dysfunction in men, oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea in women, and bone loss or infertility in both sexes.”

Hypothalamus

The hypothalamus is critically involved in coordinating sexual behavior, including drive, anticipation and function. In the medial pre-optic nucleus (MPON) of the hypothalamus, high dose opiate use inhibits male drive for and anticipation of sex. In the para-ventricular nucleus (PVN) region within the hypothalamus, high dose opiate use impairs penile erection. In the venture medial nucleus (VMN) of the hypothalamus, high dose opiate use inhibits female sex drive.

Sex on opiates

As stated above, when opiates such as heroin bump into and activate opioid receptors in the hypothalamus brain region, they suppress hypothalamic function. High dose opiate use inhibits the release of Gonadatropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland. Consequently, the pituitary gland cannot release leutenizing hormone (LH) and to a lessor extent follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), into the bloodstream. Insufficient levels of LH in the bloodstream suppress testicular and ovarian function in both males and females.

Hormones and sex drive

Decreased gonadal function can lead to lower than normal hormone levels. Hormonal dysfunction may lead to a medical condition known as hypogonadism (gonadal atrophy). Hypogonadism occurs when the body’s gonads produce little or no hormones. Sex hormones help control sex characteristics, such as breast and testicle development, and pubic hair growth. They also play a role in menstrual cycles, sperm production and sex drive.

Hypogonadism:

One in depth scientific study showed that heroin misuse led to hypogonadism. The potential sexual side effects included loss of libido, infertility, fatigue, depression, anxiety, loss of muscle strength and mass, alteration of gender role, osteoporosis, and compression fractures and, in men, impotence, and, in females, menstrual irregularities, galactorrhea and infertility.

When heroin users run out of heroin or quit they tend to experience a reemergence of sexual function. However, the longer a person uses heroin and the older that heroin user is, the less sexual rebound occurs.

Men on heroin

Men on heroin are likely to perform with less vigor (strength) and less vitality (life force). There is also evidence suggesting that prolonged heroin use has harmful autoimmune effects on sperm production.

Heroin and sperm

Science has long understood that if a testicle is damaged to the point where sperm production is compromised, for whatever reason, it is unlikely to regain its sperm making abilities. The fact is that many male long-term heroin users are found to be infertile.

Women on opiates

Female opiate users often experience fewer sexual thoughts, dreams, and fantasies. Women who use opioids such as heroin or prescription painkillers may notice that their menses is not as on-schedule as it used to be. Opiates affect the female brain in the same way as men but with different results because of the differences in male and female sexual reproductive systems. For females it’s typically missed periods and skipped ovulation.

Comments

My boyfriend told me he used to do heroin and since he has been clean all he wants to do is have sex. However, it has been almost a year since he told me that, his sex drive is going down hill. Now I am reading about how heroin effects a mans sex drive. Everything I read makes me believe he has relapsed, but I dont want to assume that, though it’s hard not to when he does things that make me not trust him. Does anyone think he’s relapsed?

My husband was on heroin for about 4 yrs (not an iv drug user, he chose snorting instead). Then he chose to start on the methadone program. Everything seemed ok for awhile and then…BOOM, his sex drive started to go downhill. I of course started to wonder what the problem was. Was it me? Was it the methadone? What was going on? Then come to find out, he was mixing the methadone with heroin. So, just in my situation, while he was on heroin we had a great sex life, but once he started mixing the 2 together everything went to hell. Hope everything has worked out for you.

I just broke up with my bf of 3 years due to his heroin addiction. Our sex life has dwindled to nothing and the only way he can keep an errection now is with viagra. But at the same time he has a bad heart problem now due to the heroin so he really shouldn’t be taking viagra. I never used drugs in my life and I didnt want to become an addict too so I stopped having sex with him because it was too dangerous. I’m okay now but it’s so sad I really saw a future with my ex and he was such a shy, sweet, smart and handsome guy that had everything going for him.

What drugs will do to such great people. I myself have dealt with addiction in my relationship. I’ve never been through so much pain. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and to him, that he may get himself together and live a normal healthy life especially considering his heart problems. And for you, good for you walking away before you were sucked in because that’s exactly what happened in my situation. I chose to be with an addict and just to be with him and spend time with him, I thought I’d just do what he was doing and everything dwindled downwards from that point on. Been clean for almost 3 yrs now and couldn’t be happier. Good luck to you sweetheart.

Hi, my boyfriend of 8 months qiut heroine 15 years ago. He shows me lots of love and attention, but our sex life is next to none. He always gives excuses, but I’m wondering if his past drug abuse has had a long term affect on his sex drive. He doesn’t say that there is a problem, I don’t want to discuss it with him, in case it may make it worse, although it is making me feel inadequate and not sexy. At least not sexy in his eyes.

Just a quick question…why in the world would you “not” want to discuss something as important as “no sex” with someone you’re in a relationship with? If you do not feel comfortable enough to bring up “sex” and talk to him about it, maybe you should just move on. You shouldn’t have to feel unwanted in a relationship. I know someone who did heroin for 30+ yrs, became clean for maybe around 5, and now his sex drive is pretty much gone. It may have something to do with his past heroin use. Good luck to you.

I have been with Molly for 6 years now. When we first got together it was good. I loved her very much, and then she started doing painkillers. Her hunger for them grew, she was vicious and vile especially when she added Meth into the mix. Even though she was hard to deal with, I still loved her and she “loved” me. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before she was shooting up heroin. The sex which used to be abundant, dried up quickly. The more she used and committed crimes including stealing from me the less I saw of her. Soon I was lucky to get lucky, and she would sleep up to 18 hours a day. Then she started to cheat on me, its kind of what junkie females do, they always cheat mainly to get a fix, it may take awhile, but it will happen. It wasn’t long till I was lucky to get 2 hours with her in that annoying drowsy state, which I can’t stand to look at. I’ve let her know how unhappy and disgusted I am with her, but she keeps on doing it. I used to believe love could conquer it all, there isn’t anything love can’t beat. Love will never beat out heroin, because the person using it, is in love with it, not you anymore. A junkie cannot care about a person, they simply cannot. Because they don’t even care about them self. She is on her way to jail soon and still can’t clean up her act.

Wow…seems like you may need a little help with your self-esteem. Why would anyone want to “get lucky” with someone like that? Love will never beat out heroin addiction, as you probably know by now. How can you help someone who doesn’t want to be helped? I hope you’ve helped yourself. Maybe it’s time to stop saving the ones who don’t want to be saved. Good luck and best wishes to you. Hopefully her time in those locked cells will help her get it together and maybe see that isn’t the best life.

My husband has been doing heroin and other drugs since he was about 15 years old. Now he is 44 and he still likes to have sex. What I want to know is, can he still have kids? It would seem that if he is still having sex, he probably can still have children. Right?

Absolutely! My husband had been doing oxycontin very very heavy along with cocaine and anything else he could get his hands on I had no idea in the beginning. He was a functioning addict when we conceived our first 2 children. Then he turned to heroin, cocaine, and probably other things, and we then conceived our third. So to answer your question, yes you can still become pregnant by an addict. But let me ask you this, why would you want to?

All the men and women with heroin addict partners. Please just leave them and move on, it’s not worth your time and it is a waste of your precious years of life. Yes, there is no sex on heroin, at least not any worth a dang, but there is no life either.

I hate to say this but this is true. If I had stayed with my ex, who I got on heroin with, then yea, I’d probably be dead or in jail. But because another guy fell in love with me and made me believe I wasn’t a worthless junkie and was willing to stay with me through the tough times I was able to get better. And I know for a fact If he didn’t stick it out with me and believe in me I wouldn’t have gotten better. I was bad. I call him CRAZY for wanting to get with an addict knowingly but I have him to thank. And we’ve been together 7 years and now and I’ve been clean and sober for about 5 of those.

So as unlikely and as unoften as it happens, some ppl do get better. You can only get better with love. Being treated like scum doesn’t motivate you to get better, it motivates you to keep using. Its not a cake walk and some people don’t want to go down that rd but my point is it isn’t always a hopeless one.

My boyfriend has been using heroin constantly now for the past 3 months, he used to be a caring and sweet guy, always complimentary. Nothing seemed to get him down. Our sex life was amazing, he couldn’t keep his hands off me, he was a body builder and cared much about his appearance. Now everything has turned sour since his relapse. He is aggressive, and barely touches me. The sweet guy is gone. All he cares about is where the tin foil is and seeing his addict pals. I feel neglected and alone. I use to think the world of him and never thought about cheating on him, but since his interest is in his next bag I have started to look more at other men. I feel terrible for doing it. He caught me masterbating a few days ago and went mad, said I was a freak and nympho and I had a problem. I don’t think things will ever be the same again. Heroin has ruined his life and my life and I don’t even touch it.

Any man who would insult or shame you for masturbating – ever, not just when he’s neglecting you – is an emotionally abusive asshole and not worth your time or the effort to stick with him in the hopes that he’ll get clean again. And no, that not just the drug talking. Ever heard the expression “In vino veritas”? Intoxication, or the stress of withdrawal, just make people more honest about what they are thinking. Those misogynist accusations reflect his real values. He just had never an occasion to insult you before because you didn’t behave in a way that didn’t please him before. Or, if you didn’t know him long before this change of character, all the sweetness may just have been the “honeymoon phase” that is a common tactic of abusers to bind their victims to them emotionally. In any case, get out before he gets violent!

My boyfriend of just a year and I seldomly have sex, and when we do its either because I’ve complained alot or I’ve had sex with him while he was asleep. I thought he is cheating on me or maybe im not attractive to him anymore. Upon reading other comments and problems it seems like a common problem, but none the less my pride and self esteem is reaching an all time low. Using heroin has caused other problems in or lives but this problem is affecting our relationship directly. What can i do to boost his desire for sexual intercourse? Doesn’t sperm accumulate with a need to release naturally? I think sex is an important bond for every couple to experiance. Crying myself to sleep seems selfish but am I reacting normally? Should I be more understanding?

I had an amazing boyfriend, seriously the most caring kind man I could have wished for. We were complementary to one another. Soul mate was used frequently to describe us. We were great until he travelled for his job. I came to visit and the last day there I found a baggie in the commode. I confronted him and everything changed. He became aggressive, and pushed me away, he was just being an ass in general. The ride back to my home he stopped many times to shoot up. I was scared due to him falling unconscious while we drove on the interstate. He basically disappeared as soon as he got me home. This drug is horrible. It took every plan we had and destroyed them. That’s years of accomplishment, love, happiness, and all the other facets of life included…now gone.

My name is Rochelle and my boyfriend wants me to give him head. I told him no because he does herion. Then he blames me for his failures. I am very sick of his heroin use. What should I do? Can someone answer this question. It won’t really affect me if I give him head because I don’t do drugs at all – all I do is drink wine.

I had a boyfriend that used heroin. I didnt use any type of drugs at all. One morning we woke up and I gave him a great blow job, not thinking of the possibility of the heroin getting inside me. I went to take a drug test and tested positive for opiates. I was devastated all I had done that morning was wake up, give him head, and drink my coffee. Be mindful heroin also comes out of the pores and apparently sperm.

I need some help! I have been married since May 28th I can count on one hand how many times we had sex. I think he’s on heroin again. Now he will not have sex with me at all and it has been about 2 months. I need some help real bad. Let me know what I can do about this situation. I have found some stuff in his underwear. Can someone give me some kind of advice?

You are going to have to openly let him know the lack of intimacy he’s shown you lately is taking a toll on your emotions & causing you to assume the worst & you really want to understand why he’s been distant. If he can’t answer it or immediately rip your clothes off and give you what you want. He’s hiding something & it’s either drugs or someone else. & From my experience with a heroin addict who also did numerous other drugs he liked having sex as much as I did, so I cant really word any advice on that but if you think he’s on heroin you have to begin to be overly observant of his actions, emotions, basicaly everything he does. Does he go-to the bathroom often? Stay too long. Does he fall asleep occasionally. Does he have times where he’s sweating hot & he shouldn’t be that hot.. is he moody at all? I found the moodiness came at times I assume he was craving more due to withdrawals. Has he stopped caring about his appearance as much as he used to. Has he lost weight. Weight loss and not caring about hygiene or looks and the constant shirtless appearances like it’s 90° out were what always caught my eye. Observe everything, the way he speaks to you, what he says, his pupils, mannerisms,.. if he drives & using he’s bound to have some kind of accident. Whether minor or the opposite.. You’re his spouse so you should know well enough to observe him and know if something is off & if you see something.. just be straight forward and ask him and watch his response. Lying is a major role in heroin abusers.. so be able to know if he’s lying or not. If you can’t tell asking isn’t gonna help much. If all else fails.. search through everything he could possibly hide drugs or the informations. Like his phone. His wallet. His car. Heroin can be hard to spot sometimes depending on what he’s keeping it in. Small tiny like size of a thumb tack piece of paper folded up and in his wallet.. check the silverware if he shoots up.. spoons are a necessity for him. I hope it’s neither of the possibilities as to why he’s being distant intimately but maybe he has a truthful explanation that will clear the bad assumptions away.. hoping for the best and praying he stays clean. Hope this might’ve helped

I met a girl a couple weeks ago – she became my girlfriend. I really like her but she told me straight up that she smoked heroin. She said please don’t shout at me. I said I ain’t gonna shout at you. But deep down I know this shit will ruin our relationship and take away the happiness I crave with her. This heroin is the devil in disguise and it’s worse than the devil. It’s even worse than hell. But she is so beautiful. I know that if heroin takes her life she will go to heaven because she is an angel.

Stop what you’re doing. Take a deep breath. Now run away as fast as you can. That girl will ruin your life. I promise you, nothing good will ever come of it. Absolutely nothing good whatsoever. Now you have been warned. If you don’t take my advice you deserve what you get, which will eventually make you nauseous, angry, confused and sad.
P.S. That person will lose there teeth and start looking really rough really soon but hopefully you are smart enough to leave.

I had a sexual relationship with a heroin addict. It was a profoundly cruel joke on me. I found that my girlfriend would say and do anything to get a fix. I thought I could help her, but I could not. She left me broke in many different ways. Then one day she pushed my button and I lost it. What I learned was that if a heroin addict sees an easy target – they simply devour it.

My husband smokes heroin and we have no sex at all now, we met 6 years ago and at first he would hav sex with me all night and then all of a sudden it started to change. He told me he was smoking heroin and from then on, slowly, he hardly has sex with me anymore. Now it’s been 8 months and we aint had sex. I feel like it’s me, but people say heroin kills sex drive! He tried many times to stop but he just can’t seem to quit using heroin. I dont know what to do anymore 🙁

I been there. I lost my bf 6-weeks ago, he overdosed. He was locked up for 3.5 months. The very day he got out he got high and passed away. I lost everything because of his habit. We didn’t have sex for 2 years. I know it’s hard but you also need to think about yourself. Because of his habit I lost everything and I mean everything – even him. He tried getting help but went back to it. I always said I was gonna leave but I kept giving him more chances. I am so angry right now. I am asking myself why didn’t I do more and so on but you can’t help it if they don’t want it. Please think of yourself.

I’m extremely sorry for your loss and send prayers to you. I can only say this.. I was always told by a heroin addict i was deeply in love with and still love so much.. that nothing made him do it but himself. He chose to do it. He is my son’s father.. and last yr we all thought was his last moments when he spent 4 days recovering n ICU from an overdose that had his dad not shown up to find him he would’ve never woke up.. he’s n rehab for the second time and like you said you can’t help them if they don’t want to get help.. you can’t. You honestly have to let them either wake up and see what is going to happen or wait for them to never wake up again. I blamed myself for a little while but I realized no matter what I’d done different those days leading up to it.. he’d still have another day and if he got depressed enough once again.. he’d have done it on that day. Bc even if I could’ve helped that day, it wouldn’t have helped the ones after. Remember him in happiness and never blame yourself for what was out of your control. I am praying for you and all his friends and family.. & I hope with time you will heal from such heartbreak.

I dated my boyfriend for 2 years and we never had sex. He seemed to always have an excuse. I later found out he was using heroin. He always told me he was just selling it and picking it up from people to sell to others and he would take me with him to get it. At times I seen him so sick and after we picked it up he would stop and use the bathroom and it made me think but I never thought he would be doing it. It was getting so out of hand and we fought everyday. Then 4 months ago he got locked up for stealing. He got out of jail on the 10th of August and after being in there since April…well I fell asleep and I woke up and he was gone. He came back hours later then left again…he passed away the same day he got out. He told me he was good and wanted us to start over and now he’s gone forever. That shit is the devil and it destroyed everything. It destroyed me and I don’t even use. I did everything for him, he was the love of my life. I feel like I died with him. I have so many questions that I will never get the answers to. I’m so confused over everything and I have nowhere to turn.

My boyfriend is on herion. I try to help him out, but he just doesn’t want help. He tells me it will be the last time, but then he continues to use. Can someone please tell me how I can help him? Before I loose him. He left yesterday and has not called me to pick him up. We got into an argument because I told him I just can’t take it anymore. I help him a lot. I want to give up on him, but I can’t ever do it because I love him. What can I do? I’m so confused sometimes. He can be really aggressive at times, so I try not to get him mad. I really love him and I want to help him but I don’t know how.

I know how you feel. I’ve been with my boyfriend for 12 years. He’s an alcoholic and he shoots up herion. It’s truly hell. He stops herion for a while but eventually goes back. I know he just started using again, because (1) he goes to the bathroom and stays in there a long time, (2) he doesn’t get hard anymore, and (3) I caught him with a needle. It’s sad. Today he is trying to quit and I’m trying to help him. This situation is hell for everyone one who is in a relationship with an addict. I know exactly how you feel about not wanting to give up on him. I have no idea what to do any more. I pray you are strong enough to get out and know that God will help you.

I have been doing heroin for almost a year. The last time I had my period was, I don’t know when, maybe 6 months ago. All this talk about guys not being able to get it up on heroin is true. KC my boyfriend rarely if ever wants to have sex. He even turns down blow jobs, which to me says he is fucking around but he swears up and down it’s the heroin. Then the weirdest thing of all happened. He finally wants sex and he is on top and we are so and so. He says he is going to cum, and then the asshole fakes it. He f’n pretends to have an orgasm. I am sick to my stomach over this. What is a girl to do?

To be perfectly honest, I doubt your boyfriend is screwing around. He has probably lost interest in having sex or maybe he can’t get it up. Heroin will kill a man’s sex drive and ruin his sex life. Oftentimes, heroin sex just means bad sex and sometimes heroin sex means no sex at all. All in all if you and KC keep doing heroin you should expect to have a bad sex life. If the both of you keep doing heroin, he is likely to develop effeminate features and you are likely to stop having periods and maybe even orgasms.

My husband has been on morphine for almost 1 yr 100mg twice daily, we have sex maybe 1 or 2 a month. He says it’s not me he just doesn’t feel like it but I know for a fact he masterbates 4 or more times a month so if morphine kills the drive and he doesn’t want to why treat himself rather than have me? He will be getting off morphine soon since surgery so will this problem get any better? He says sweet things and everything else is ok just sex, gets mad when I try or bring it up like I am obsessed. I’m not obsessed, this is just hard to understand. I am new to this taking a pill to not have sex thing.

Yours in not a new story. We get that you are worried but things should improve post morphine treatment. It is common for men to loose their sex drive while taking morphine. But if you really want to find out then make an appointment with an endocrinologist and have his testosterone checked. Good luck to you two.